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Message: <blockquote data-quote="shilsen" data-source="post: 2821159" data-attributes="member: 198">Session 17 - Goblinoids and Good SportsNameless yells to the others to get out before the place collapses and turns to head in the opposite direction. As they follow him, they are met by a bloodied Zeke, who comes rocketing at them and wraps himself around Nameless' head, jabbering, "Them bastards tried to kill me!" Nameless disgustedly peels him off and Gareth heals him while they are running, during which Zeke explains that the fleeing mephits ran into and attacked him in the tunnel. He seems quite pleased at Zokar's death and a little surprised at the fact that he remained behind, since Zokar apparently "fetched me from out there."The fleeing adventurers quickly realize that the results of Zokar's death are very localized, with the reverberations not even being felt in the tunnel, though they hear the sound of collapsing stone behind them. Not stopping to investigate, they hurry on until they reach Blackbones, and then make their way to the surface. Once they are outside, Cala thanks the Angels for all that they have done, and also asks them not to speak to anyone about what had occurred, explaining that it will only lead to more suspicion, and mistreatment, of Cyrans in Sharn. Corven backs her up and the others agree. Since it is certain that the multiple deaths will have drawn a lot of attention, and it is quite likely that their presence in High Walls was noted, they decide to simply explain that a fallen angel was harming people and they eliminated it. Cala also says that she will speak to Tyrala and they will take Kielsten into custody. Gareth reminds her that he wants to know what happened with the magical items found at Kielsten's house, causing Cala to say that she will check and comment amusedly that he really is quite greedy.Cala and Toras take their leave, and the others head to the Cathedral. When they eventually get to meet Ythana Morr and tell her of their success, she is quite pleased. She explains that Kielsten's demeanor has apparently changed (probably since the slaying of Zokar) and the tattoo on him is now non-magical. At Gareth's request, she agrees to temporarily keep him in custody. Gareth also asks again about the sword, and - since he is unwilling to leave it behind - she suggests that he return later in the evening with it.The group then splits up, with Corven going to the Esoteric Order to work on a homunculus he is constructing to aid in his crafting work, Gareth visiting the Deneith enclave, and the others returning to the inn. Later in the evening, Gareth returns to the Cathedral, where he spends some time researching his sword and helping (or mostly watching) Ythana Morr cast a couple of divinations on the sword. He learns a little about weapons that adapt themselves to, or grow in power along with, their owner, but little about Kizmet specifically.***The next day, the group meets with Karr'Aashta, who is quite amused to see the mephit they have along. He says that he has heard nothing about anyone searching for or putting out a contract on them. He mentions that Daask forces have apparently launched a number of brutal attacks against Boromar holdings in areas such as Callestan and Cogsgate. They have also stepped up the number of robberies, and Karr'Aashta surmises that this may be a result of the Angels' attack on them.Since Gareth wants to pay a visit to the goblin fence Maarkra and recover his money, Nameless asks Karr'Aashta about that. Karr'Aashta suggests that they not do so, not because Maarkra is dangerous but because the Malleon's Gate area is. He also provides the information that as far as he knows Maarkra has two guards at the shop as his only security. Lastly, Karr'Aashta gives the group a note for Piet, the mage who did the magical work identifying Gareth's sword. Piet is a member of the Guild of Starlight and Shadows, and Karr'Aashta says that the group could probably find him there.After leaving him, the group heads to the Guild. Nameless' status as member gets them in very quickly and they soon locate Piet, who is a young half-elven wizard. He talks with the group about the sword and seems surprised about the strange effects that Gareth has encountered. Piet suggests that he could do more tests on the sword but Gareth doesn't wish to leave it behind and asks him to do some research instead. He agrees and the Angels take their leave.They then, as usual, have a somewhat protracted argument about whether to go to Malleon's Gate or not. Also as usual, they argue at cross-purposes, with Nameless and Six arguing about the risks of drawing attention (especially Daask's) by doing so, and Gareth arguing that they shouldn't be scared of Maarkra. Eventually they decide to go, and head down to Malleon's Gate, trying to keep as low a profile as possible. Since it is drizzling, as usual in Sharn, they have an excuse to travel heavily cloaked and hooded, and Six uses a recently purchased hat of disguise to make himself look like a hobgoblin.Malleon's Gate looks the same as ever, seeming like an extended slum overrun by goblinoids. Reaching the shop, they enter to find Maarkra leaning over his counter and talking to a man and another goblin, both in fairly ratty-looking clothes. Nameless promptly casts a web spell to entangle the group, drawing screams of fear and surprise. Zeke, who has been ordered by Gareth to shoot at people and not set things on fire, promptly hits the human with a scorching ray, dropping him unconscious. Maarkra, wounded by a volley of magic missiles from Nameless, drops behind the counter and yells for help. The yell is answered by the opening of a door in the rear, which reveals two armed and armored goblins. The first takes an arrow from Six in the shoulder, causing the other to curse and slam the door shut. Since the web is preventing the others from reaching Maarkra, Nameless then dismisses it, which allows the other goblin (already wounded by a produce flame from Luna) to dive into the junk in the shop and try to hide. Not well enough, unfortunately for him, since another set of magic missiles from Nameless kills him. Six and Luna give chase to the two armed goblins, and find that the area behind the door is a room with multiple doors leading out. One is open and leading into a dark corridor, down which the goblins are apparently fleeing. Luna wounds the rearmost one with another hurled gout of flame but they keep going. They are, however, not fast enough to evade Zeke and Nameless, who fly after them. Nameless launches a fireball down the corridor to incinerate one goblin and Six races after the other. The corridor ends at a door and the goblin, realizing that it cannot open it before Six reaches it, turns and charges him. Six promptly bludgeons it into unconsciousness and drags it back, along with the dead one.Corven, who has stabilized the unconscious man and confirmed that the other goblin is dead, and Gareth, who has Maarkra groveling on the ground with a sword at his throat, see a goblin open the door to the shop (Six had pulled across the curtain as soon as they entered), take a startled look at them and slam it shut. Gareth questions Maarkra about his money and learns that the goblin only keeps a thousand galifars in the shop since any more would be dangerous. Maarkra quickly gives them directions to his home, where more money is, promising to give them all the money if he is spared.The others, who have checked behind the other doors to find a storeroom and a makeshift bedroom, return with the goblin guards. Hearing that somebody has spotted them, Nameless suggests they get out of there immediately. Luna checks through the door and says that there are still goblins and some humans outside, with no evidence of them being alarmed. Gareth wants to take Maarkra along to find his home, but the others refuse, saying that it's much too dangerous. Nameless tells him to just dispatch Maarkra and Gareth agrees to do so. Amusingly, as he swings at the goblin, Maarkra screams and dodges away, causing him to miss. As the goblin leaps desperately to his feet and makes a run for the door, Gareth swings  - and misses again*. Disgustedly, Nameless fires an acid arrow that hits the goblin in the back and drops him unconscious to the ground, where the acid gradually eats into and kills him. Nameless then pulls out his crossbow and shoots the unconscious man (whom Gareth had detected to be non-evil) in the head, doing so before Gareth can stop him. Six, at Nameless' order, kills the unconscious goblin. The group first checks the tunnel and finds that the door on the other side has no evident way of opening it from the inside. Rather than waste time investigating, they leave the shop. The group quickly heads for the closest route to the upper levels, but they are only a few hundred feet from the shop when a voice yells, "Stop!" in goblin. They see that it comes from a muscular hobgoblin, wearing a breastplate and with another four hobgoblins, all with armor and shields, standing behind it. A small crowd of goblinoids are standing around or peering around corners at the scene.None of the Angels respond, but simply quicken their pace. The hobgoblin draws a greatsword and shouts again, this time in Common, saying, "I said 'Stop!' What are you doing here?" Seeing the Angels continue on their way, he yells, "Stop them!" and charges at Gareth, catching him a nasty swipe with the weapon. He is immediately followed by two bugbears, which have been standing among the goblinoids on the other side of the group, who charge forth with longspears, wounding Luna and Six.Nameless, whose fly spell is still active, takes to the air immediately and hurls a fireball that badly scorches the four hobgoblins. They scream in pain and anger and charge into the fight too, focusing on those they can reach rather than the mage in the air. For a few seconds the battle goes badly, with the goblinoids working intelligently to flank their enemies and focus their attacks. Though Gareth strikes the hobgoblin leader (whom he attempts to smite and learns is not evil), he is wounded again. Luna too wounds her enemy and is hurt in turn. Corven manages to pull out his wand and trigger it, sending a scorching ray right through one of the already burned hobgoblins and killing it instantly, but another strikes him painfully. Zeke attempts to affect the leader with a heat metal and fails. Six, attempting to trip the leader, has his spiked chain pulled from his grasp and has to draw another. Then Nameless changes the odds significantly with his next spell, casting a glitterdust that blinds the leader (identified as "Margaash" by what the goblinoids say while fighting) and two other hobgoblins. This buys Gareth time to back out and heal himself, and buys everyone a little breathing space. Not much, however, since Corven, having wounded the bugbear fighting Luna with another scorching ray, is badly hurt by a hobgoblin and on the point of collapse. Luna too is badly hurt. Of course, most of the goblinoids are in poor shape too.At this point, a hitherto unnoticed figure (hooded and cloaked), who has been steadily moving through the crowd that has assembled to see the action, steps forth and shouts, "Stop! Lower your weapons!" Apparently the goblinoids recognize him, since one bugbear says, "Oh, <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> me - it's Gasslak!" and quickly backs away, careful keeping its spear at the ready but not trying to attack. The others also cease their attacks, though a couple stumble back and forth due to the blindness and/or a stinking cloud spell Nameless has just cast. The figure raises his hands and removes his hood, to show a face wreathed by hissing snakes and reveal himself by a medusa. He calls to the group to lower their weapons again and then walks forward. Nameless, knowing that his spell is ending soon and apparently having reached his breaking point, promptly flies towards the higher levels as quick as he can. Though he has asked Zeke to accompany him, the mephit decides to stick with Gareth. Six too considers flight but sees there are too many onlookers and simply retreats away from the medusa.With the fight now halted, most of the combatants busy themselves trying to heal their wounds, while Gareth and Margaash find themselves face to face with the medusa, evidently called Gasslak. Margaash says that he and his soldiers (who apparently belong to a group called the Ja'khor - or Blackbloods, in goblin) were told that the adventurers had murdered a number of people and come to apprehend them. Gareth denies the charge and admits that they have executed a fence and drug dealer who had stolen from him. Gasslak points out that he is not part of the City Watch and has no right to execute anybody and that it is murder. He, however, doesn't seem too concerned, and says that he has taken it upon himself to keep peace in Malleon's Gate when it seems like a good deal of bloodshed might happen. Gasslak is somewhat displeased when told of the others killed at Maarkra's shop (Gareth hastens to point out that they were killed by Nameless), and when Gareth says that Maarkra had stolen some of Gareth's money and had it at his lodgings, says that he will dispose of it to any dependents of those who were killed (including the Ja'khor member slain in the fight). He warns Gareth and the others that they should never return to Malleon's Gate (to which Six says he has no intention of ever doing so) and tells them to leave. The Angels quickly leave (Gareth stopping for a few seconds to ascertain that Gasslak isn't evil either) and head for the inn. Nameless, meanwhile, has decided that they need to lay low and not to wait for the others. Returning to the inn, he grabs his possessions, pays his part of the tab, and leaves. Heading to Middle Tavick's and the Guild of Starlight and Shadows, he gets himself a room there and settles in, planning to check on the others soon. He begins work on scribing one of the gaseous form scrolls into his spellbook.The others, meanwhile, reach the inn and discover that Nameless has left. This gives Six an idea and he says that he is getting out of town for at least a couple of days or till the expedition to Xen'drik is ready to leave. Luna agrees to accompany him and the two leave. Rather than continuing to stay at the inn, the others decide to leave and head for the Cathedral. Temporary accommodations are soon arranged for them (and for Bodo and Zeke) there. While they are doing this, Luna and Six make their way to Lower Tavick's Landing. Passing by the Terminus district, where the Orien lightning rail enters Sharn, they come to Wroann's Gate. They depart along the Old Road with the local traffic leaving Sharn, seeing farmers leaving after a day of selling their produce, merchant caravans, the odd noble's coach, and no end of messengers and travelers. Once the road has descended from the crags and cliffs that Sharn stands upon to the lowlands, they break off the road some distance before it reaches First Tower, the first real village after Sharn. Finding a small wood nearby, they set up camp and settle down to relax.***The next morning, a Sivis messenger drops off a letter from Gareth's family, requiring him to pay a few sovereigns for the added trouble. Shortly afterwards, Flim Turen comes looking for the group as planned, also having stopped at the inn and been directed to the Cathedral. He is a little surprised at the news that they aren't staying together right now, and inquires whether they are splitting up. Corven and Gareth reply in the negative and Flim changes the topic, discussing the article on them that appeared in the Chronicle.He also asks about the events in High Walls, apparently having heard about them and about the Angels' presence there. Gareth presents exactly the story that they had decided to, focusing on the issue of a fallen angel in the Cogs that they slew. Gareth also throws in a few references to the Cyran embassy helping a lot with their inquiries and being the ones who set them on the case. When Flim asks why the angel was focused on the Cyrans, Gareth says that it was apparently interested in those who lived alone and were in a weakened condition, so taking advantage of the Cyran refugees makes sense. After making some notes and asking a few more questions, Flim leaves, thanking the pair for the story and promising to drop by once before they leave for Xen'drik.While Corven goes off to continue with his artificing work, Gareth remains at the Cathedral, attending services and reading in the library, except for a visit to Piet at the Guild of Starlight and Shadows (where he learns little besides what he already knows). Deciding that they need to know more about the laws of Sharn in particular, Gareth spends some time checking on the subject among the Cathedral's documents. Late in the day, after Corven returns, Dala Arand stops by to say that the plans for the expedition are progressing as planned. Corven suggests that the might even be ready to leave earlier than planned, and Dala says that might be possible, though she cannot promise anything. Gareth suggests that they stick with the original plan, and if there is an earlier departure possible, then Dala and Kidro contact the group with at least a day's advance notice. Dala agrees and leaves, promising to stop by in a couple of days.Nameless spends the day at the Guild, either working on scribing the spell or sitting in his room, meditating on various philosophical questions and having arcane disputations (if slightly one-sided ones) with his pet rock. Outside the city, Six and Luna enjoy the sensations of being in natural surroundings as well as on solid ground, not to mention having less worries about people spying on them or planning to stab them in the back. Six spends much of his time practicing his craftsmanship, while Luna spends some time flying as an eagle over the Brelish countryside.***The group, other than Nameless, reconvenes at the Cathedral the next morning. It is 12th Nymm, the festival of Brightblade, dedicated to Dol Dorn, sovereign deity of strength at arms. By the time the others reach the Cathedral, the streets are bustling with people heading to the early services and preparing for the sporting competitions that take up most of the day. Gareth has no interest in the worship of a member of the Sovereign Host, and none of the others are much interested either, so they have a leisurely breakfast and head over to meet Karr'Aashta again. Karr’Aashta asks about their trip to Malleon’s Gate and says that since he was checking on them, he has heard a little about the encounter. He says that apparently Gasslak does dwell in Malleon’s Gate and help keep the peace there, and he identifies the Ja’khor as a mercenary troop from Darguun, who are among those brokered by House Deneith. Karr’Aashta also says that he has still not heard anything about Daask expressing any interest in the Angels. He theorizes that this is because of the results of the recent Daask attacks. Boromar forces have evidently struck back strongly, and both gangs are involved in a more aggressive gang war than they have been in many months. Six tells him that he should continue with the surveillance until they leave for Xen’drik, and he says that he will do so.Leaving Karr’Aashta, the Angels head to the training grounds of Daggerwatch, where the competitions in the Dura area will occur. There, they find that there are five official categories - archery, boxing, jousting, weapons competition and wrestling. Checking on the rules, they find that no magic may be used during the competitions. Priests of Aureon and trained adepts use wands and other items to keep an eye on things. Competitors are allowed to use their own equipment as long as it is not magical. Replacements are provided for those who do not have any. Anyone detected as using magic is disqualified and fined on the spot for fraud. With the large crowds and potential for criminal behavior, numerous guards move around the area constantly. Scores of competitors move around the area, representing not only the more common races, but including warforged, goblinoids, and a couple of gnolls.Gareth and Six decide to take part in the weapons competition, and Six enters the boxing too. The latter occurs first, and Six has an easy time with his first couple of opponents, knocking out one unfortunate man with a single punch. He eventually ends up in the district final, where he finds himself facing another warforged**, this one much larger, with spikes sticking out of his shoulders (now padded to avoid any accidents). The first couple of punches let Six know that his opponent is effectively immune to the blows from the padded gloves they use, and he quickly realizes that the other is much stronger and hits harder. Deciding to try to last the 3-minute round, Six switches to defensive fighting and putting on a show for the spectators. Unfortunately for him, the other warforged, after a few seconds of swinging and missing, connects perfectly with a haymaker that puts Six down and out.In the weapons competition, both Gareth and Six end up in the same draw (there are two for the weapons competition, since it has the most entrants), but at least in different halves. Both of them progress well, albeit with some difficulties, a Valenar elf wielding a double-bladed scimitar landing three of the needed five hits before Gareth manages to knock him out. Six uses his tripping ability with the spiked chain to good use, keeping enemies off-balance most of the time. In the semis, Gareth ends up fighting a half-elven priestess of Dol Dorn*** wielding a longsword two-handed. Though he lands a number of solid blows and has her rocking with his third, she hits more often and manages to land the fifth and win. Six, having defeated a tough half-orc, faces her in the finals. He manages to land a couple of good hits and eventually trip her, but the priestess is up four hits to three at this point, and though he lands another hit as she regains her feet, she lands the winning blow. Six congratulates her and asks her if she wants to go to Xen'drik. The startled woman replies that she is busy right now, but thanks him for the offer and compliments him on his skills.The Angels also watch the other competitions, seeing the shifter Redtooth from Callestan win the wrestling competition, a human warrior**** (who is apparently a friend of the priestess and the big warforged, who wins the second half of the weapons competition) win the archery competition, and the priestess win the jousting. After taking a break, during which Corven decides he has had enough and leaves for the Esoteric Order, the Angels head off to the Cornerstone arena of Tavick's Landing for the Contest of Champions. Arriving there, they find the arena crammed full of thousands of spectators, with a small number of aristocrats present in a special area. The lord mayor of Sharn, Cathan ir'Demell, is also on hand to open the competitions.The first competition is the jousting, where a Valenar knight knocks the priestess tail over tip on the first pass itself. In the boxing, the big warforged ends up fighting another one in the final and beats him handily, which also wins Six some money since he has placed bets on his erstwhile opponent. A shifter from the Tavick's Landing competitions wins the archery, beating the human who won in Dura to second place. In the wrestling competition, an ogre hugs the breath out of a raging Redtooth. The weapons competition ends strangely, with a masked dwarf defeating the big warforged with ease and being on the verge of doing the same to the priestess in the final, before he suddenly concedes and quickly leaves (apparently leaving her fuming).During the day, the Angels hear people in the crowds around them discuss various pieces of news around town, some involving them. Some talk about rumors that Cyrans have been rioting and setting fire to non-Cyrans, that Cyrans were calling demons (Zeke gets dirty looks from those saying this) to burn others, and so on. They also hear of a ship from Xen'drik having been attacked by sahuagin, but getting through safely. Someone argues that this is somehow connected with an apparent lack of fish in Sharn harbor and nearby. A popular topic seems to House Cannith and their recent offer to all warforged in Sharn to be employed by the House, which has promised to employ warforged of any ability, and offered to try to buy off any contracts they may have. A few people seem to find this a charitable act, saving many of the warforged in the Cogs from the equivalent of indentured servitude that they signed themselves into after the War. More people are suspicious of this offer, saying that Baron Merrix is trying to get control of the warforged the way House Cannith originally had, during the War.After the prizes are awarded, the Angels depart along with the thousands of other spectators. After some discussion, Luna and Six decide to spend the night at the Cathedral too, rather than returning outside Sharn. When they return to the Cathedral, an acolyte delivers a note from Nameless saying that he'll be joining the others at the ship on the 16th.* Needed a 5 to hit and missed twice!** A PC from my other group*** A second PC**** And a third</blockquote>

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